Illegal vehicles jam isle roadways

Everyone knows Oahu has too many cars on our streets and that the city has limited funds to solve our traffic problems.

Thousands of registered vehicles are on our roads illegally. These cars have no insurance, hence no current safety sticker. These cars block our mailboxes, create blind spots and make driving on a narrow street unsafe.

The solutions vary from "Pay at the Pump insurance," hire more police or increase the fines. Towing these cars off the street is not practical because we don't have the space to store them. One solution is to give the abandoned-vehicle inspectors and the police the authority to remove the license plates from the vehicle until the owner can show proof of current insurance and safety sticker. If the car's owner cannot get insurance, the car could be donated to a charitable organization.

If another solution is not found, these cars will continue to crash into cars with insurance, and this will cause the insurance rates to increase.

HSTA works hard on teachers' behalf

I was stunned and dismayed to read Hawaii Laborers-Employers Union Director James Kuroiwa's Nov. 6 letter to the editor, "HSTA leaves behind new teachers," which is filled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations. Here are the facts.

Kuroiwa's claims that pay for starting teachers was cut by $7,410 in the recent contract settlement are simply preposterous. Starting salaries for individuals with baccalaureate degrees but without teacher training are $28,076; individuals with baccalaureate degrees and teacher training receive $35,486. These salary levels have been in place since the teachers ratified them in May, and no changes were made in our recent contract settlement. No teacher lost a dime of pay.

Hawaii State Teachers Association works hard to ensure teachers are paid fairly. To suggest that we would be party to an effort to reduce teacher pay is unfathomable.

The sad truth is that Hawaii's public school teachers are underpaid. As a result, we are facing a teacher shortage crisis.

If we are truly committed to leaving no child behind, we must commit to putting highly qualified teaches in every classroom. To do this, however, we must pay teachers more so we can recruit -- and retain -- the best, most qualified teachers.

At HSTA we take seriously our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of educational excellence among our members. As the people responsible for educating Hawaii's keiki, public school teachers play a critical role in determining Hawaii's future.

More telescopes would benefit Hawaii

It is critical to encourage well-paying, sustainable jobs to come to Hawaii. As we rely on the unsustainable jobs that tourism, construction and real estate provide, we are going down a path with a grim future.

One thing that would lessen our reliance on the unsustainable economic base we now have is to encourage the development of astronomy on Mauna Kea. But there is a part of the community that is strongly opposed to this. I can understand why, but in my opinion the positives outweigh the negatives.

If we do not encourage astronomy we'll see these telescopes built elsewhere and the gradual decline of astronomy on Mauna Kea, which I'm sure the opponents will be thrilled about. But I do not think it is right. How are we supposed to encourage good, sustainable jobs to come here if we continue to scare them off?

Landholders benefit under the system

In this increasingly rancorous debate over leasehold conversion, one "fact" appears to be getting lost: Landowners inherit property they didn't pay for.

How is that? The developer, not the landowner, paid for putting up the buildings and all the improvements. The developer then passed that cost on to the buyers in their purchase prices. The land (fee) owners paid nothing. The apartment owners pay for other improvements through association fees. In addition to their mortgage and insurance, the apartment owners also pay property taxes, even though they didn't own the "fee" under their apartment. Again the landowner paid nothing. So what happens when the lease expires? In most cases, from million-dollar beachfront condos to Makiki high-rises, the landowner gets everything -- the land, the buildings, the improvements. The lessees are evicted.

Lawmakers long ago decided it's time to change this antiquated system. The courts have upheld the changes, concluding the right of home ownership overrides this out-of-date leasehold system that exists nowhere else in the United States. Yet, the condo owners, including those who purchased after Chapter 38 was passed more than a decade ago, are facing the stark reality of handing over their property to landowners. So the next time you hear someone accuse leaseholders of "stealing," consider the windfall Bill 53 represents to the landowners.

Iraqis should help elections go smoothly

I hope that the upcoming January elections in Iraq, which are looming on the horizon, will go smoothly with all tribal, ethnic and religious groups involved in getting their representatives elected. With a new governing body, a new constitution and security stabilized, the prospects for our troops returning home will be brighter.

If only we could get the majority of Iraqis to help us reach that goal of a democratic country. We need their cooperation and participation.

Hawaiian paradise sets good example

From Oct. 25 to Nov. 3, I had the pleasure of making my sixth trip to your paradise. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined how you people celebrated Halloween. It was absolutely amazing to see all of the people going up and down the streets in their costumes.

People wonder why I like coming to visit. Well, it is simple -- it is the people. You folks are the nicest people I have met in my life. Everyone always makes me feel welcome. You are a very special and passionate group of people. Folks here on the mainland have a lot to learn from our Hawaiian cousins.